Throughout the past several years, the gaming community on Steam has demonstrated a resolute preference for Windows 10, asserting its continued dominance over Microsoft's more recent offering, Windows 11. Despite its availability as a free upgrade, Windows 11 has experienced sluggish adoption rates among gamers, a stark contrast to its predecessor's enduring popularity.
This trend has come to light particularly as of February 2025, where statistics reveal that Windows 10 64-bit boasts a significant increase of 10.47%, securing its place as the operating system of choice for more than half of Valve's tested user base. Meanwhile, Windows 11 is utilized by only 44.10% of users, illustrating the latter's struggle to capture the gaming community's favor.
Influence of Regional User Base
A noteworthy factor contributing to Windows 10's sustained success is the rising number of Simplified Chinese users on Steam. A 20.88% surge in this demographic has made it the most prevalent among the platform's users, accounting for 35% in total. This geopolitical shift significantly influences the operating system preferences, as these users are more inclined to stick with the tried-and-true Windows 10.
Challenges in Upgrading
While Windows 11 has seen a consistent, albeit slow, increase of about 2% each month in 2025, several barriers to its adoption remain. The anticipated end of support for Windows 10 set for October 14, 2025, raises concerns among its adherents regarding the impending loss of security updates. However, Microsoft's stringent technical specifications for Windows 11, most notably the TPM requirements, have made the upgrade process cumbersome for many existing systems, limiting their eligibility for the new operating system.
These technical hurdles have left a significant portion of the gaming population hesitant or unable to transition to Windows 11, despite its enhancements and future-proof features. Microsoft’s challenges in simplifying this migration could further delay widespread adoption among this critical segment of users.
